Sinn Féin’s proposals on waiting lists has potential to end the crisis of waiting lists in our hospitals

Sinn Féin TD and Health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly has said that, if implemented, Sinn Féin’s alternative proposals on hospital waiting lists will make a real and substantial difference to patients.

Deputy O’Reilly was speaking as the party launched its new animation introduction to the Comhliosta waiting lists proposal.

Deputy O’Reilly said:

“I commend the Minister for Health Simon Harris for taking our proposals on board and agreeing to examine ways at implementing the Comhliosta initiative.

“For Sinn Féin, the long-term solution for waiting lists and the general chaos in our health services is clear; we need an Irish National Health Service, one that is truly public. That provides healthcare on the basis of need, not on who you are, where you live or how much money you earn; a system that is funded by progressive taxation.

“However, there is a pressing need to fix the crisis on waiting lists that faces us currently. To do so, we need a new way of thinking. We need to stop kicking the can down the road and take responsibility.

“We need to implement bold solutions that will work.

“Our proposal for a single integrated waiting list management system, Comhliosta, is a system that allows patients to transfer to other hospitals that may have smaller waiting times. Instead of lingering on one list for one hospital, patients can move to another hospital with a shorter list. It is a system that works well in Portugal.

“This proposal has the potential to make a real and substantial difference to patients.”